Searching For Walleye? Seek Out The Shallow Flats!

Hello anglers everywhere!

Otter Tail Lakes Country saw another drastic temperature battle last week!  I think it’s time for late winter to go away—leave us alone. Fish and fishermen both, would love it if the water temps were able to peak and stabilize so that we could all just do our thing. Water temps dropped hard last week. They went from a hot 74 degrees on many lakes (of all sizes) to 65 degrees today! In fact, Ottertail Lake was 64 degrees this morning!  It’s almost July.

Along with the drastic decline in water temps, I also saw a decline in fish activity. Fishing was very strong last week on many lakes for many species, especially walleye, but by yesterday morning I was having to re-find the walleye, or basically start all over again. Once the water warms back up a few degrees in the next couple of days, the sunfish will, hopefully, finally complete their spawn which will help predator species like walleye, northern, and bass exit shallow areas and resume their summer lives on the weed lines where they are easier if find and easier to fish.

For now, stay on the hunt for walleye on shallow flats where weed patches meet sandy or rocky spots. Also, while many walleye are milling near sunfish spawning sites, there are always schools off the drops and on common weed line areas like points and weed-topped islands. Use leeches and night crawlers or jigs tipped with Gulp or red tail minnows. Fish crappies in and around cabbage stand next to deep water and adjacent to flats—use spinners and crawlers or small crank baits like Frenzy Minnows to locate them. Summer crappies are attack and ambush type feeder, so it’s not uncommon to catch them on crank baits, small spinner baits, or spinners tipped with minnows or crawlers.  For northern, I like trolling crank baits over weed tops or along weed edges.

Good luck fishing Otter Tail Lakes Country this week!

More about the photo above:

Despite the cool weather last week, walleye fishing around Otter Tail Lakes Country was strong—you just had to find them.  I’ve been seeing a lot of nice walleye lately, typical of June fishing.  If you find a nice walleye like this one, be sure and take a photo and release it—the lakes need these large breeding fish!  Photo by Ross Hagemeister, meisterguideservice.com.

By Ross Hagemeister of Meister Guide Service